Chicken lovers rejoice! This is my chicken update, per many, many requests.
After the chickens were old enough, they were moved outdoors a few months back. All four were really fun to watch grow. They got really ugly for a while, but now I think they are quite pretty 🙂.
Their names are Stella, Poe, Alice and Aurora.
Chickens are interesting. They have many different sounds depending on what they are doing and thinking. I don't know how much chickens actually think. They are not smart at all, but we have two Rhode Island Reds and they are definately the smartest. Our leader in the pecking order is Alice, a RI Red, she's the boss. She's really assertive and friendly and tends to determine where they all go. All the chickens love being out free to roam, though this is a risk. They are happier, because they peck at grass, weeds, trees and bugs. This makes their diet more well rounded. They began laying eggs a few weeks back and I often have more eggs than I need! At dusk, they all walk back to the coop and go in, hopping up on their roost for sleeping. Chickens are flock animals, likely due to their high predator risk, so they stay together and don't really like to find themselves suddenly alone. If that happens, they call out to the others to find them and rejoin them when they do. Each night, I lock them up. Now that the cold weather has hit, I keep them penned up under the tarps to keep the cold out, and have to change their water frequently. They lay about 4 eggs per day.
They are interesting to watch. They have funny behaviors and tend to startle easily. They are not as disgusting as you might think: although they poop constantly, it's a breeze to clean out and keep orderly. They love to go out and totally screw up the rocks I have that line my driveway, and the mulch in my flower beds. They're obsessed with the garage. If I leave the doors open, they stop what they are doing and head straight for it and just nosey around in there. We shoo them out because they poop.
Unfortunately, today, the neighbor's dog got into their pen and killed two of them. I have to go and tell the kids when I pick them up. This will make them all cry.I'm pretty bummed out. I feel terrible, but that's what happened. I just ordered a new pen that is like Fort Knox, but too late, too late. Lesson learned. The kids love them.
Here they are, if anybody is interested:
The black and white one, Poe, and Stella, the brown one with gold flecks ,(in the first pic) have now flown to hen heaven. :'(
http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x202/Sunburnt13/?albumview=slideshow
They cannot get out of the pen without being let out. However, big dogs like the one next door can get in by brute strength. Actually, that dog has bitten my ex-husband so we don't trust him.
I built a stronger pen at the end of summer, taller, and completely covered. Its not good enough. I won't let them free range without supervision. Its very common around here. Many people own animals in this area. Chickens stay near the coop, they know their territory and don't wander too far. The new pen will be delivered tomorrow and its pretty solid. I will have to assemble it in the garage first.
The kids were hysterical and cried for a solid hour. Finally, I encouraged them all to draw pictures of the chickens and they have calmed down and are no longer crying. They are still drawing right now, in fact.
My daughter has become a vegetarian as of late - I am pretty sure she will stick to it now that this has happened, even for a little while.
I am still missing a hen...I am hoping to find her body tomorrow while the kids are at school.
EDIT: My son didn't shed a tear. Just the girls. He thinks all animals are pretty filthy, so he's not heartbroken, lol.
Originally posted by SunburntThank you.
Chicken lovers rejoice! This is my chicken update, per many, many requests.
After the chickens were old enough, they were moved outdoors a few months back. All four were really fun to watch grow. They got really ugly for a while, but now I think they are quite pretty 🙂.
Their names are Stella, Poe, Alice and Aurora.
Chickens are interesting. T ...[text shortened]... heaven. :'(
http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x202/Sunburnt13/?albumview=slideshow
Originally posted by expuddlepirateChickens eat eggs. They love them.
I had a few pet chickens as a kid. A rooster I got as a baby chick at a local store as part of an Easter permotion was as loyal as any dog and gave my cats fits. Oddly he had a taste for chicken cat food????
Its the most commonly fed supplement to chicken feed. I give mine either scrambled or hard-boiled. Its good for protein, of course. Also, I feed them flax seed, oatmeal and yogurt. They love it. I give them cracked corn before bed to warm them up for the night.
They also love dog food occasionally, but that's a rare treat because its so fatty.
Originally posted by expuddlepirateDon't you keep them in the living room? I mean you're from the South right?
I had a few pet chickens as a kid. A rooster I got as a baby chick at a local store as part of an Easter permotion was as loyal as any dog and gave my cats fits. Oddly he had a taste for chicken cat food????
